Navigating to the Next Normal

Photos by Still Photographer Tom Griscom

By Pauline Rogers

August 21, 2020

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David Bowie’s classic song, “Space Oddity,” reportedly inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, related the experiences of Major Tom, a fictional space traveler, who found himself “floating ’round my tin can, far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue, and there’s nothing I can do.” Reporting later to a Ground Control (he may never see again), Major Tom says, “the stars look very different today.”

These descriptive lyrics capture a surreal time when, like Major Tom, we’ve all found ourselves floating, far from our “Ground Control.” A killer virus with no vaccine has halted the world, uncovering pre-existing weaknesses in society and humankind.

As a photographer, my response has been to check in with creative people, who typically are engaged in storytelling in visual ways, and are now, like us all, “stopped in time.” These snapshots are a personal document of these strange times, as each creator has identified new outlets of expression; projects put on hold were rekindled, or something completely new sprang to life. In most examples, family has become everything.

What these images show is that while the absence of large sets and movie shoots have been delayed, telling creative narratives has not. Some are documenting protests while others have become avid about fitness. Helping others has become a big part of many of their lives, whether it is physical training or making masks.

These skilled professionals all love what they do, sharing their talents on projects that entertain, educate, and interpret life. They know that when the world is “safe” again, whatever that means, “it will never be the same – and neither will they.”

We all are so very tired of Zoom interactions, and yet these subjects have been able to participate in creative workshops with highly trained industry professionals. Ironically, “social distancing” in the virtual world has brought them closer to friends, family, and even new connections. So take this journey with me through the lives of these Georgia-based Local 600 members, who are, like us all, still “floating ‘around the moon, somewhere,” waiting, hoping, and still creating – until Ground Control comes back into view. I hope these images confirm what we all already know:

Whether it’s in a pandemic – or on a set. We’re in this together.

Calvin Greer (Digital Utility): I’ve been documenting Police Reform/Racial Equality protests in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Atlanta, which has led to a documentary short collaboration with other black filmmakers in California, Florida, and North Carolina. I miss being on set making narrative films and TV, and even short films with my friends. Hopefully, soon, we’ll all be able to hang out with friends and family.

Amber Bournett (Loader): Early in the pandemic, I spent a lot of energy rescheduling my wedding. Afterward, I celebrated my birthday in the mountains for some much-needed rejuvenation. Since then, I’ve tried to create as much as possible – from baking vegan brownies to painting. I also shot some documentaries that went on my reel. I can’t wait to get back on set, and also traveling more than I did before COVID.

Cindy Hsieh (2nd AC): I schedule four things to do every day: a yoga session, a Chinese Mandarin lesson via Duolingo, a brain exercise via the Elevate app, and violin practice. When we emerge on the other side of COVID, I’m looking forward to traveling and seeing friends and family (without having to test beforehand). I can’t wait to hug people again.

Jennifer Braddock (2nd AC): My “shelter in place” has been outside, working for a friend who is a professional trail builder. During the day I dig, and after work, I ride. Being on a bike has always been great therapy. But when I wiped out (and needed a titanium plate to hold my arm together), my world fell apart. I couldn't build, teach, race, or even ride. Two weeks after surgery I was on my stationary bike and running suicides. Since then, I’ve been preparing our “youth composite team” for the first race. I can’t wait to bounce back strong.

Michael Watson (Director of Photography): When the pandemic hit, I was working on the final season of TNT’s "Claws." As a single dad of two kids, I have been challenged to help them navigate through it all. I have enrolled in a few online classes through Coursera and Edx. I have fully accepted that there is no going back to where the world once was, pre-COVID. And honestly, I’m ok with it. What I look forward to most is traveling again and dining out.

Hilda Mercado (Director of Photography): Some days I feel like an astronaut living in a space station – the only way I can connect with other people is through the computer and phone. I’m using this time to help others – making masks and mentoring has been very good for the mind and spirit. Although there’s a long way back to “normal,” I can’t wait to travel again and to have gatherings, as I used to. I can’t wait to be back at work, hug my friends and family, and have a camera on my shoulder again.

Elliott Augustine (Camera Operator): Since lockdown, I’ve been practicing flying, capturing beautiful sunsets and sunrises with my drones, and testing the limits of what my “birds” can do. I also build websites and apps – programming has helped me offset the loss of production. I look forward to filming amazing scenes with my drones and working with my team. I miss night flying over epic scenes for films and TV, waking up early to catch a sunrise in a remote location, just the sheer adrenaline of flying. I can’t wait until things get going again.

Callie Moore (2nd AC): Participating in community outreach, protesting, volunteering, and working with our YWC to move social change forward have all given me a new purpose. While I miss my job every day, this time has taken me to a deeper level of self-awareness –to see what truly matters and feel the tangible strength of an uprising. If the world is ever safe again – whatever that means – it won’t be the same and neither will I. Chandra Sudtelgte (Digital Utility): All this free time during the pandemic has allowed me to spend six weeks with my parents and younger sister in Florida – the largest block of time I’ve been able to spend with my family since I moved to Atlanta in 2013. Back home, it’s been about small gatherings with a few close friends, growing tomato plants (which are finally ripe enough to eat!), and trying to stay active with rock climbing, rollerblading, hiking, biking and walking. I've kept my spirits high, even in these uncertain times. I’ve learned to appreciate the downtime while looking forward to getting back on set safely.

Angelica Perez (Operator): Anxious for camera action, I decided to turn my living room into a space to practice Steadicam. Health and fitness are important, so I created a YouTube channel (Fitness with Camerawoman) with home workout videos. I also had the opportunity to work in post-production on the indie feature "Through Her Eyes," which I photographed. The film’s subject coincided with the many protests against racism and police brutality and led to an interview with CBS that aired this past May regarding the journey and its expected release. As much as I’ve been enjoying watching shows and movies at home, there’s something about being in a dark room with friends and strangers that makes movie-going such a special experience.

Mark Hill (Still Photographer): I spent the first two months gardening and learning business skills with QuickBooks and Excel, rarely seeing anyone outside my family. When our governor opened up the state for elective surgery, I quickly scheduled a knee replacement that I had been putting off for years. I thought that this would be the perfect time to recover and rehab before the industry opened back up. Eight weeks later, I can now walk six miles with little pain, which is a miracle.

Shelly Williams (Unit Publicist): The production I was working on as Unit Publicist – National Geographic’s "Genius: Aretha" (ICG Magazine, "All Hail The Queen," May 2020) – shut down on Friday, March 13. During this time I have recovered from a severe bout of bronchitis (non-COVID), taken a scenic solo road trip to Texas, day trips to explore some of Georgia’s small towns, and zig-zagged my way around countless neighborhood walks. I look forward to seeing movies in the theater, having spontaneous dinners in restaurants, and – most of all – hugging people. That’s what I’m most excited to get back to – human contact.

Chris Flores (Operator): March 11th was my last “normal” time on set. And throughout that strange day, we had been hearing about other shows shutting down. Then a storm blew in. I wanted to document our crew scrambling to take shelter and secure equipment, as I felt it was quite symbolic – we all knew a challenging journey was ahead. My young son, Tyler, didn’t understand why we couldn’t go to the park or his buddy’s house a few doors down. As a parent, that’s heartbreaking to see, and the stress has weighed heavily on my wife, Melissa, and I. One positive during lockdown is that we finally got Tyler potty-trained! I look forward to sharing a hug with a friend again, and my kids feeling safe. Until then, we as a family continue to do our part. Stick together, be loving, kind, patient, faithful, and vigilant.

Richard Chapelle (Director of Photography): In March, I was three days away from starting on a production when it was postponed indefinitely. Shelter-at-home was an alien concept, and I responded by only venturing out of my apartment to purchase necessary provisions. I was able to do some of the things I don’t usually have time to do, like cataloging and color-grading photographs I took while filming in India and Papua New Guinea. I’ve also participated in industry webinars and zoom meetings about the latest cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment (I thoroughly recommend watching the ASC Clubhouse conversation between Steven Fierberg, ASC and Colin Watkinson, ASC, BSC, on how he shot and lit "The Handmaid’s Tale"). Although I have tried to focus on the silver lining in every cloud, I can’t wait for these COVID-19 clouds to clear and everyone gets back to work.

Marque DeWinter (AC): My wife and I found out just before COVID we were expecting. Coupled with buying a new house at the end of 2019, that meant the early parts of quarantine were spent unpacking, decorating a nursery, and doing home renovations. As time has gone on, I’ve shifted to figuring out how I could still work in production while social distancing. I modified some of my gear to work as remote-controlled camera systems on set, as well as working to develop a robotic camera platform. My wife has become a COVID compliance officer and contact tracer since her industry, live events, has evaporated. While COVID has been a drastic change, we still have a positive outlook and look forward to welcoming our new baby in November!

Vincent DeVries (Operator): After the initial stress and panic, we settled down and continued working on our home. But I honestly don’t think there will be a pandemic long enough to finish this house! The most important thing has been being together with our entire family and growing ever-stronger and closer. Once we go back to some kind of “redefined normal,” I long to get back on set, and under the water. Attending the wonderful workshops by both the SOC and Local 600 has been inspiring. I can’t wait to return to work, bringing what I’ve learned to help create beautiful stories.

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